Automatic gas cut-off.



No. 898,762. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

r E.TURNER. v

AUTOMATIC GAS GUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1907- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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AIM! I Illlllllli IIIIIIL I No. 893,762. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908. B. TURNER.

AUTOMATIC GAS OUT-OFF;

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1907.

2 sums-511E212.

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ELMER TURNER, OF PITTSBURG, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed November 30, 1907. Serial No. 404,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Automatic Gas Cut-Off, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cut off valves and has for its object to provide improved means for automatically cutting off the supply of gas to the burner of a stove, furnace, gas jet or the like in case the pressure in the service pipe falls below a predetermined point thereby to prevent the escape of gas at the burner tip with a consequent injury to the occupants of the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic cut off including a casing having a diaphragm disposed within the same and normally held in elevated position by the pressure of the gas in the service pipe, said diaphragm being provided with a plunger adapted to engage a trip arm operatively connected with the turning plug or valve so that when the supply of gas to the burner is diminished or altogether cut off the plunger will drop and through the medium of the trip arm effect the closing of the valve.

A further object is to provide a tension device for controlling the movement of the trip arm, and means for locking the latter in position to be engaged by the operating lever of the valve when the latter is moved to open position.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an automatic cut off constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the spring latch and tension device. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view ofthe enlarged head of the trip arm.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved device forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a casing 5 for connection with a service pipe leading to the burner of a stove, furnace, gas jet or the like, said casing being substantially cylindrical in shape and provided with a lateral enlargement 6 defining a substantially bowl shaped chamber or compartment 7 communicating withthe interior of the casing, as shown.

Arranged within the compartment 7 is a transverse diaphragm 8 preferably formed of rubber or similar yieldable material and to which is connected the enlarged head 9 of a plunger 10.

The chamber 7 is provided with a cap or closure 11 which bears against the peripheral edge of the diaphragm 8, said closure being locked in engagement with the diaphragm by means of bolts or similar fastening devices 12 which extend through co-incident ears or lugs 13 formed on the casing and closure, respectively for engagement with suitable clamping nuts 14.

Secured to or formed integral with the cover or closure 11 is a vertical projection 15 preferably curved or bowed longitudinally and provided at one end thereof with a vertical extension 16 to which is secured the adjacent end of a corresponding curved spring locking lever or latch 17.

Extending transversely across the casing 5 and mounted for rotation within the same is a turning plug or valve 18 for regulating the flow of gas through the casing, said valve being provided with a vertically disposed operating lever or handle 19 having a lug or projection 20 extending laterally from one side thereof.

Secured to or formed integral with the casing 5 is a cylindrical extension or housing 21 in which is seated a coiled spring 22 one end of which is extended parallel with the operating handle 19 and terminates in a hook 23 for engagement with the lug 20.

The opposite heads 24 of the housing are locked in engagement therewith by a bolt or similar fastening device 25, which latter, ex-

tends through the convolutions of the spring 22 for engagement with a clamping nut 26.

One of the heads 24 is provided with a marginal row of openings 27 preferably disposed concentric with the bolt 25 and adapted to receive the adjacent terminal of the spring 22 so that by positioning the terminal of the spring in any one of the openings 27, the tension of said spring may be adjusted thereby to regulate the throw of the operating handle 19.

Extending vertically from the upper portion' of the casing 5 and preferably disposed in alinement with the vertical axis of the valve 18 is a post or standard 28 to the upper end of which is pivotally mounted at 29 a trip arm 30.

The long end of the trip arm 30 is provided with an enlarged head 31 having a fiat bearing surface 32 for engagement with the lower face of the spring locking lever 17 while the lower face thereof is inclined or beveled at 33 for engagement with the adj acent end of the plunger 10 whereby when the arm 30 is moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 of'the drawings to the full line position shown in said figure, the inclined face 33 of the head 31 will engage and depress the plunger 10 for the purpose hereinafter referred to.

The upper end of the plunger 10 is provi ded with a curved or rounded terminal 33 for engagement with the correspondingly rounded face 34 of the head 31, whereby when the arm 30 is released the head 31 may ride over the curved end of the plunger 10 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings without danger of catching or binding thereon.

Extending laterally from the pivot point 29 of the operating lever 30 is an actuating finger 35 which extends in the path of movement of a lug 36 secured tothe inner face of the operating lever 19 whereby when the operating lever 19 is actuated to open the valve 18 the lug 36 will engage the finger 35 and move the trip arm 30 to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Spaced from the lug 36 is a second lug 37 preferably shorter than the lug 36 and Whichengages the finger 35 and serves to prevent the spring 22 from moving the lever 19 to closed position when the gas is admitted to the burner tip.

As a means for regulating the pressure exerted by the spring locking arm 17 on the adjacent end of the plunger 10 there is provided a tension device consisting of a bar 38 having one end thereof bearing against the cover or closure 11 and the opposite end thereof bent laterally and provided with a depending finger 39 which bears againstthe upper surface of the spring locking bar 17, as shown, there i being an adjusting screw 40 extending through the arm on the bar 38 and engaging a correspondingly threaded opening in a lug 41 carried by the closure 11 so that by rotating the screw 40 the plunger may be adjusted to respond to any variations in the pressure of the gas in the service pipe.

The free end of the spring bar 17 is bent rearwardly to form a spring hook 42 which yieldably engages the head 31 of the actuating bar when the valve 18 is in closed position, thereby to prevent accidental movement of the actuating bar and also to support the finger 35 in position for engagement with the lug 36 of the operating handle when the latter is moved upwardly to open the valve. 7

when the casing is connected in the service pipe with the plunger 10 in vertical position, said plunger will drop by gravity when the gas pressure in the chamber 7 is reduced, but when the casing is connected in the service pipe with the plunger 10 arranged in a horizontal position a coiled spring 43 is seated in the guide recess 44 in the projection 15 for automatically moving the plunger to lowered position on the reduction of the gas pressure in said service pipe.

The operation of the device is as follows: Under normal conditions the valve 18 is in open position with the operating handle 19 and the trip arm 30 in the full line position 1 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and in which position the gas in the service pipe is free to flow through the casing to the burner of a stove or to an ordinary gas jet. Should the supply of gas for any reason be partly or totally cut off the plunger together with the diaphragm 8 will drop by gravity thus releasing the head 31 and causing the spring 22 to move the head 31 from the full line position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings to the dotted line position shown in said figure. When the head 31 is released from engagement with the terminal of the plunger 10 the coiled spring 22 will exert a downward pressure on the operating handle 19 and automatically close the valve so as to cut off the supply of gas to the burner. As the oper. ating handle or lever 19 is moved to closed position the lug 37 will engage the finger 35 and tilt the arm 30 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and in which position the finger 35 will be disposed in the path of movement of the lug 36 when the handle 19 is again moved to open the valve. In order to open the valve it is merely necessary to exert an upward pressure on the operating handle 19 when the lug 36 will engage the finger 35 and move the actuating arm to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the inclined face 33 of the head31 engaging and depressing the plunger 10 in its passage across the lower face of the spring bar 17. When the head 31 passes the plunger 10 the pressure of the gas in the compartment 17 will automatically raise the plunger 10 so that the latter will extend in the path of movement of the head 31 and lock the head against lateral movement until the gas pres sure in the chamber 7 is again out off, in the manner before described.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a dia hragm disposed within the casing and provi ed with a plunger, a valve,

a trip arm operatively connected with the valve and plunger, respectively, for locking the valve in open osition, means for automatically closing t e valve, said plunger being actuated to release the arm upon a reduction of the pressure in the service pipe.

2. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the casing and operatively connected with the valve, means for locking the arm against lateral movement, said means being actuated to release the arm when the gas pressure in the service pipe falls below a predetermined point thereby to permit the closing movement of valve.

3. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a fluid pressure actuated member disposed within the casing, a plunger secured to said member, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm having one end thereof operatively connected with the lever and its opposite end engaging the plunger, and means for automatically closing the valve upon a reduction of the gas pressure in the service pipe.

4. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe and provided with a chamber communicating with the interior of the casing, a diaphragm disposed within the casing and having a plunger secured thereto, a closure for the chamber and bearing against the diaphragm, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm having one end thereof operatively connected with the lever and its opposite end engaging the plunger, said valve being movable automatically to closed position upon a reduction of the gas pressure.

in the service pi e.

5. A device of the class described including a casing, a diaphragm disposed within the casing and provided with a plunger, a spring latch spaced from the casing, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the casing and having one end thereof operatively connected with the lever and its opposite end slidably mounted on the spring latch for engagement with the adjacent end of the plunger, and means for automatically closing the valve upon a reduction of the gas pressure in the service ipe.

6. A evice of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a

fluid pressure actuated member disposed within the casing, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm ivotally mounted on the casing and adapted to bear against the fluid actuated member, a lug carried by the handle and adapted to engage the trip arm for moving the arm in engagement with said member when the valve is moved to open position, and means for automatically closing the valve upon a reduction of the gas pressure in the service pipe.

7. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a fluid pressure actuated member disposed within the casing, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the casing and having one end thereof provided with a terminal linger and its opposite end adapted to engage the fluid actuated member, a lug extending inwardly from the operating lever and adapted to engage the finger for moving the long end of the arm in engagement with said member, and means for automatically closing the valve upon a reduction of the gas pressure in the servlce pipe.

8. A device of the class described including a casing, a diaphragm disposed within the casing, a plunger extending vertically from the diaphragm, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the casingand provided at its pivoted end with a terminal finger, the opposite end of the arm being formed with an enlarged head having an inclined face, a lug secured to the operating lever and adapted to engage the finger for moving the inclined face of the arm in engagement with the plunger when the valve is moved to open position, and means for automatically moving the valve to closed position upon a reduction of the gas in the service pipe.

9. A device of the class described including a casing, a diaphragm disposed within the casing, a projection extending vertically from the casing and having a recess formed therein, a plunger secured to the diaphragm and operating within the recess in the projection, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the casing and having its pivoted end provided with a terminal finger and its opposite end formed with an enlarged head adapted to engage the plunger, a lug carried by the handle and adapted to engage the finger for moving the head of the arm in engagement with the plunger, and means for automatically moving the valve upon a reduction of the gas pressure in the service plpe.

10. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a diaphragm disposed Within the casing and provided with a plunger, a projection secured to the casing, a spring bar fastened on the projection and provided with a hooked terminal, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the casing and provided at its pivoted end with a terminal finger, the opposite end of the arm being provided with a wedge shaped head slidably mounted on the spring bar and adapted to engage the plunger, and. means for automatically moving the valve to closed position upon a reduction of the gas pressure in the service pipe, the enlarged head of the trip arm being adapted to engage the hooked terminal of the spring bar when the valve is in closed position.

11. A device of the class described includ ing a casing for connection with a service pipe, a diaphragm disposed within the casing and provided with a plunger, a valve, a trip arm secured to the valve, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the casing and having one end thereof provided with a terminal finger, the free end of the arm being adapted to engage the plunger, a lug extending laterally lrom the operating lever for moving the arm in engagement with the plunger when the valve is moved to open position, means for automatically closing the valve upon the reduction of the gas pressure in the service pipe, and a second lug secured to the operating lever and adapted to engage the terminal finger for swinging the arm laterally when the valve is moved to closed position.

12. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a diaphragm arranged within the casing and provided with a plunger, a projection extending vertically from the casing, a spring latch secured to the projection and bearing against the adjacent end of the plunger, a tension device for regulating the pressure exerted by the latch on said plunger, a valve. an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the valve and having one end thereof provided with a terminal finger and its opposite end adapted to engage the plunger, a lug secured to the operating lever and adapted to engage the finger for moving the arm in engagement with the plunger, and means for automatically closing the valve upon the reduction of the gas pressure in the service pipe.

13. A device of the class described including. a casing for connection with a service pipe, a fluid pressure actuated member arranged within the casing a housing depending from the casing, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm operatively connected with the fluid pressure actuating member and lever, respectively, and movable to released position upon a reduction of the fluid pressure in the service pipe, and a spring disposed within the housing and connected with the lever for automatically closing the valve when the trip arm is released.

14. A device of the class described including a casing for connection with a service pipe, a fluid pressure actuated member arranged within the casing, a valve, an operating lever secured to the valve, a trip arm operatively connected with the fluid pressure actuated member and lever, respectively, and movable to released position upon a reduction of the pressure in the service pipe, and means operatively connected with the lever for automatically closing the valve when the trip arm is released.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER TURNER.

Witnesses:

H. J. GRAY, L. M. SHUFORD. 

